PAAO-YO Research: Dr. Erick Hernandez Bogantes

Dr. Erick Hernandez Bogantes is a specialist in Cornea, Refractive Surgery and Ocular Surface in Costa Rica. Below are the salient points of an article he recently published with links to the article.

Orbital Cellulitis in Chagas Disease: An Unusual Presentation

American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease (CD) is a human vector-borne zoonotic disease endemic in 21 Latin American countries and the southern United States.

Chagas disease is an inflammatory, infectious disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi found in the feces of the triatomine bug, which can cause a sudden, brief acute illness, or it may become a long-lasting chronic condition.

• We reported a rare case with 1-month history of orbital cellulitis, fever, and headache refractory to systemic antibiotics showing an important mechanical occlusion due to periorbital edema (suspected Romaña’s sign) in the right eye.
• Serological testing and prompt therapy resulted in satisfactory clinical improvement.
• Being a potential live threatening condition, Chagas disease should be in our differential diagnosis for orbital cellulitis.
   

Hernandez-Bogantes E, Campos-Fuentes E, Barrantes-Dominguez M, Wu L. Orbital Cellulitis in Chagas Disease: An Unusual Presentation. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020 Aug 25. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000001748. Online ahead of print.